Orthodontic-appliance adjuster



l Aug. 19, 1930. J. A, LINEE 1,773,588

onTHoDoNTIo APPL-IANCE ADJUSTER Filed March 31. 1928 s 16 4- l f .llllllllll I Patented Aug. 19, 1930 JOHN A. LINDE, oriirmir,vom;A NQY. j

oRTHoDoNTIo-Arrrirancn 'DJUSTER Application filed `March 31, v:19287., Seral 266,416.

This invention relates to orthodontic appliance arches and adjusting means therefor, I and particularly to that class of the same wherein adjustment may be had to increase the outward tension by means of a nut mounted on the arch- The obj ect of my invention is to provide an arch with a self locking nut which is very easy to rotate in the direction of increased tension of the .arch but which is such construction in relation to the arch that it will resist any return and will thus retain the advantage gained. Y

Another object is to furnish an arch of VK simple construction which is easyto manufacture' and inexpensive in design.

VFurther objects and advantages will aplpear as this specification proceeds.

In the acompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view of an orthodontic appliance arch embodying the novel features of my invention.

F ig. 2 is asimilar view with an included modification.

Fig. 3 is view of the lock nut shown in the previous views to further reveal its novel form. 1 A

Fig.`4 isa partial View of the arch shown in Fig.'1 with a fragment of the same in sectie often is baffled in his attempts to cause cer'y tain movements of maloccluded teeth because the arches he uses will only provide a very limited degree of tension and possible move'- vment. ,This Vis sometimes partly overcome by using several arches in sucessiombut it is an object of the herein describedfinvention to provide ample latitude both for tension on the particular teeth indicated, besides any desired degree of possible movement ofthe arch and the teeth.

The archwire 1 isprovided with a sleeve extremity 3 which terminates Vat .5 in one or more end teethsimilar to 18, V'Iheloppos'ite half of the archy 2 isV formed at its upper extremity into a relatively'straight threaded portion which is adapted to slidably lit the Y hollow channel 14 of sleeve 3. This thread 4 of wire V2 is fitted with a square nut`10,

whose oneextremity has a pair of teeth 16' and 15 which' are adapted to cooperate withV the end teethof thev arch wire 1.y

f If we Vnow more particularly notethe action off-the arch in use, the tooth bandffis 'first' secured to wire 11 and-fittedtothe inJ dicated tooth 8 which` is to be movedfoutward, while la second band 7 is' secured to the other arch wire 2 1and fittedy tothe Vsecond tooth"-9,rfagainst which an outward tension is also desired. When the nut 10 is rotated on the thread of wire l, the nut having, of course, an internal thread 17, the wire thread 4 will be drawn out partly out of channel 14 and will cause the wires 1 and 2 to assume the positions noted vat 11 and 12, respectively.

However, owing to the presence of the mutually engageable teeth l5 and 16 on the nut and tooth 18 on the part 5, the nut will not be able to return to any former position of itself.V Tn the mentioned new position, it

is evidentthat a great'tension may be had on the teeth 8 and 9, tending constantly to force them apart. Itis also eviden-t that any yfine degree of tension may be had, and that at any time the tension may be increased to compensate fork movement which may have taken place in the teeth, it being clear Vthat any such gains are successively retained .v r Vby the arch in every position. In'the practice oforthodontia, the dentist The arch asV described has been employed soV with a view to providing a rather harsh tension on kindicated teeth, reliance being had on the inherent tenacity of the arch wires 1 kand 2 alone. F or some purposes, it is desirable to have a softer and more flexible tension Without sacrificing the possible radius of' movement, and a vspring 13 may therefore be interposed between the nut 10 and sleeve end 5. This4 spring catches the otherwise engaged teeth and serves perfectly to assist the u nut as before in holding the tension, but with of the its own softer tension as the criterion tensionfofv the whole arch. v

c Having thus fully described my invention, I claim c n f 1. An orthodontic 'arch wire comprising an arcuate wire member terminating' in a sleeve having a plurality of teeth upon the extremity thereof, a second wire terminating at one extremity in a threaded portioncY of said irst member,

adapted to slidably fit into the sleeve of said rst wire, and a lock nut mounted upon the threaded portion of said second wire provided with a plurality of teeth upon one eX- tremity adapted to engage the teeth of said sleeve to prevent return of said nut when once turned forward.

2. An orthodontic appliance arch including in combination, a pair of opposed members, a hollow extremity upon one of said members provided with rigid means upon the vhollow end thereof, a threaded portion upon adapted to slide into said hollow extremity and" a rotary member mountedrupon said threaded portion having an end projection thereon for directly en-y gaging said engagement means upon said hollow extremity whereby to determine the relative projection of said threaded portion into said hollow end. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication. JOHN A. LINDE.

engagement A the other member 

